Fire and EMS personnel from the West Grove Fire Company handled a tricky extrication call on Tuesday, June 5. Originally dispatched at 1158 am as a vehicle crash involving fire, EMS personnel arrived to find a postal truck on its side with the driver trapped. The crash was on Oxford Road in New London Township, with Ambulance 22-1 arriving to report one subject trapped, and a two-vehicle crash. Two vehicles -- a USPS postal truck and a pickup -- hit head on.

Rescue 22 also responded and arrived on scene and began to prepare for extricating the driver of the postal truck, which was laying on its right side. Due to the report of fire, the crews deployed a 200' 1-1/2" hand line for safety and laid out the tools necessary to gain access. After consideration, it was decided to "flap" the roof of the truck away from the patient, which involved cutting the A posts (around the windshield), and across the roof, using a large ram to fold the roof back for access.

During the extrication, a small fire broke out in the engine compartment of the postal truck -- it was extinguished with a fire extinguisher.

After the roof was removed, it was noted that the driver's feet were confined under the dash. Rescue 22 crews used a Come-A-Long wrapped round the steering wheel and a nearby tree to pull the dash away from the patient. The patient was then taken out of the vehicle and removed to the ambulance. Extrication time was 21 minutes. The patient was transported by Ambulance 22-2 and Medic 94 to the local trauma center (Christiana). The driver of the second vehicle was interviewed and required no treatment.

PA State Police closed Oxford Road for a few hours to conduct an accident re-construction.

Units:

Rescue 22, Ambulances 22-1 and 22-2

Mutual Aid:

Medic 94, PSP Avondale

The driver of a US Postal Service mail delivery truck was trapped and extricated by crews from the West Grove Fire Company at this two vehicle crash in New London Township.

The second vehicle sustained major damage, but the driver was not treated.

Crews cut and flapped the roof to provide full access to the driver.

WGFC rescue crews used tools to pull the dash up off the driver's legs.